Guilford selectmen to end lantern controversy today

GUILFORD  The Board of Selectmen at a special meeting this morning is expected to put an end to a controversy that has divided many in this historic Shoreline community  which lantern will light the pathways on the Guilford Green.

Peggy Schenk

Published 12:00 am, Tuesday, February 1, 2005

The meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m. in Town Hall. Also on the agenda is discussion and possible action on the 2005-06 municipal budget proposal.

The lighting issue has pitted those in favor of a style recommended by the Green Committee described as elegant and unobtrusive against another proposed by merchant Richard Greene, a Federal-style model similar to lanterns used on the Green in the 1800s.

A straw poll conducted during the 2004 holiday season, when both lights were on display on the Green, drew 657 votes. Of those, 249 favored the Green Committees light, with 406 voting for Greenes proposal.

Two people cast ballots against both.

But theres more than just style to consider, proponents of the Green Committees choice have said. For example, theres the matter of how vandal-proof the lantern is and whether it adheres to night sky considerations.

At its Jan. 18 meeting, the Board of Selectmen attempted to decide the issue based on advice from the Green Committee and the public opinion poll.

However, after nearly two hours of heated discussion, the vote nullified the action with one in favor of the Green Committees light, one against it and three abstentions.

The board then tabled the issue to gather more technical information for comparison from the manufacturers of both models, Providence Indirect of California, the Green Committees preference, and Pennsylvania Globe, a North Branford company, the popular vote choice.